The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-16
GIFTED
TEXAR'S REVENGE
BY JULES VERNE.
A Story Of the American Civil War

/ all entered the forest, the barge being only able
to take some five or six at time. Zermah saw
! them go off in small groups. and walk up the
| the other bank; but she could not see the sur
| face of the water
Texar remained till the last, and then went
of, followed by of the dogs, whose instinct
! was to be made use off during the expedition.
At sign from bis master the other hound re-
turned to the NUT as if he was to be the only
guard.
A few minutes afterward Zermah saw Texar
| move up the opposite bank, and stop for an in
slant to arrange his men. Then, with Squambo
at their head. and accompanied by the dog. the
men disappeared among the trees. Doubtless
one of the negroes had brought back the barge,
that could cross to the island,
But the half breed did not this.
She, however, hesitated no longer.
by had just awoke.
"Come, darling" said Zernah.
''WhereP asked the child.
''There Into the forest! Perhaps we shall
find your father-your brother You not
afraid9
mot when you are with me-"
Then the haf-breed opened the door carefully.
AS she had heard no noise in the hut, she sup.
posed that Texar was not there.
And she right
She sought about for some weapon of defense
On the table was one of those large knives used
by the Indians when hunting. She picked it up
and hid it under her clothes and she took a
little dry meat to last her for few hours
But the time came for be: to leave the wig
wan. She looked out through the palisade in
the direction of the channel. There not q
living creature in sight.
The half breed tried to open the outer door.
The door was shut from the outside, and
would not give way.
Then Zermah went back to the hut. There
was only one thing TO be done. That was to
make of the hole she had already half made
in the wall of her sleeping-room
The work was easy. She had only to use her
knife to cut into the reeds-and this she did
with as little noise as possible.
But if the hound that mad not gone with Texar
were to appearl Would he not throw himself
on her and the chidl
There was, however no time to hesitate The
hole was made large enough, and through it
Zermah drew the child, whom she passionateiy
embraced she did so. by gave back kiss for
kiss; she had understood. It was necessary to
escape through this hole.
Zermah glded through and looked to the left.
to the right and listened. Not sound could she
hear.
But soon she heard the bark of a hound. It
seemed to come from the west of the island.
She picked up the child. Her heart beat ready
to burst. She could not think she safe
til she was through the reeds on the opposite
river bank.
But to cross the hundred yards between the
wigwam and the stream was the most critical
part of the escape There a chance of her
being seen either by Texar or by the slaves.
Luckily. to the right of the hut was q thicket
of aborescent plants and reeds, extending to the
bank of the channel, "a few yards only from the
barge.
Zermah entered the thicket. The plants open
ed to give passage to tie fugitives, and closed
behind them. The barking Of the dog was
heard no longer
The way through the thicket was not easy
There a narrow path between the interlac-
ing shrubs. Zermah's dress was in rags, and her
hands torn. Little did it matter 80 long as
the child was unharmedi
The brave half-breed uttered no complaint
and although Dy often made acquaintance with
the thorns, not a cry did she utter.
Although the distance short, about sixty
yards at the outside, it took quite half an hour
before the channel was reached.
Zermah then stopped, and through the reeds
she looked first at the wigwam, then at the
forest
There was no one to be seon. On the other
bank sign of Texar and his companions,
who were a couple of miles or so away. Unless
they the Northerners they would not be
back for some hours.
But German did not believe she had been left
alone in the hut 1t WAS not likely that one of
the Texars had gone off unseen and taken tho
dog with him. Besides had not the half breed
heard the barking-a proof that the hound was
still prowling under :he treess ANY moment
she might see one the other appear. But if
she made haste she might reach the cypress
grove.
While she watched the Spaniard's men in their
Journey from bank to bank, she had not been |
able to see the surface of the stream. and she |
supposed that the barge had been brought back |
by one of the slaves. This was necessary for |
the safety Of the wigwam, in case Captain Ho- |
wick and his men defeated the Southerners.
But if the barge the other side, as |
10 be ready to help in Texar's retreat? If it |
were there would he not have to find an |
other hiding place2
But Zermah must have the barge to get across |
She could not see it. Where could it be2 For |
half dozen yards she glided through the reeds |
Then she stopped.
The barge was on the other side of the chan
1el.